Teaching Written Language to Deaf Infants and Preschoolers

Abstract

The acquisition of oral and written language in six deaf infants is compared from ages one and two years for periods of four and five years. The results indicate: (1) Acquisition of written language is not dependent on oral language; (2) Written language teaching can be initiated at about one year of age; and (3) Written language is easier to learn than oral language. These results suggest that written language instruction in early life helps deaf infants acquire language.